All Confederate markers removed from I-10 rest areas, New Mexico says

This June 28, 2017, shows statue of Confederate president Jefferson Davis on Monument Avenue in Richmond, Va. As cities across the United States are removing Confederate statues and other symbols, dispensing with what some see as offensive artifacts of a shameful past marked by racism and slavery, Richmond is taking a go-slow approach. (Photo: Steve Helber, AP)

Officials of the state Department of Transportation now believe they have removed the last remaining memorials to Confederate President Jefferson Davis from Interstate 10 rest areas in New Mexico.

The New Mexican reported earlier this summer that the state quietly took down several markers from the mid-20th century that named a stretch of the highway through southern New Mexico for the Virginia-born rebel leader.

But readers noted that Jefferson Davis Highway markers remained in place at rest areas in Gage and Anthony.

The state confirmed last week it had removed those markers, too.

"We believe that they have all been removed, but we encourage anyone with knowledge of any others to let us know and we will have them removed immediately," said department spokeswoman Emilee Cantrell.

The move comes as debate continues around the country over removing the names of Confederate leaders from public roads and buildings as well as taking down monuments to leaders of the South's revolt.

Opposition to plans for removing a statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville, Va., last year, for example, spurred a violent rally of white supremacists that left one anti racist demonstrator dead.